His poor runs in 2007
could be because of his team’s mechanical issues? This year was a horrible year for the Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) engine
package. Earnhardt Jr. blew up too many times to count. But I have to give him credit, when he did not blow up he was running
up front most of the time.
Is he a great driver
who just needs to mature or is the equipment at DEI just not that good? Well if has not matured by now he never will and before
2007 the DEI equipment was not that bad.
So the problem must then
be is that he is just an average driver. He has won the Daytona 500, but so have Derrick Cope and Ward Burton. Jr. did win
back-to-back Busch Series Championships but back in the late 90’s the Cup presence was not what it is today. Could he
win a Busch Championship today, probably not?
On the bright
side, going into the 2008 season Earnhardt Jr. has a few things in his corner. The biggest being a car owner (Rick Hendrick)
who is hands on and will do what it takes to make his teams win. Hendrick does show up at a lot of the races and he has yet
to pass off all responsibilities to someone with limited NASCAR experience.
2006 StockCar Review.
